Canopy mechanism



R. D. KAPLAN CANOPY MECHANISM March 25, 1958 Filed Feb. 10, 1954 INVENTOR. Hic/zam D. Kap/an ArroR/vsx Marh 25, 1958 R. D. KAPLAN 2,828,093

v CANOPY MECHANISM Filed Feb. l0, 195A 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 557.3%@ y INVENToR.

@ic/Zara D. Kap/an M MAD' A TTORNE Y.

March 25, l1958 R. D. KAPLAN cANoPY MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 10, 1954 R- D- KAPLAN March 25, 1958 Filed Feb. l0, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENToR, Richard ggd/wan ATTORNEK United States Patent@ CAN OPY MECHANISM Richard D. Kaplan, East Meadow, N. Y., fassignor to Republic Aviation Corporation, Farmingdale, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February'10, 1954, Serial'No44tlSL298 12 Claims. (Cl. 244-121) This' invention relateszto mounting the closure ".or''canlopy ,for the cockpit of anairplane andto"a`"rnechanism `by which such canopy may swingor.'rnove"relative tothe Vfuselage kto and from itsposition over`orenclosing'ithe cockpit. ltV is also concerned'withV the meansassocia'ted 'with'or interposed between `the .canopy'an'd'the fuselage by which the canopy is locked against movement-relative to the fuselage when situated over orienclosinglthe cockpit.

, Among its other objects, the instant inventionproposes a mounting Vmeans for the .canopy 'that'notonlyprovi'des for swinging the canopy longitudinally of .thev fuselage` from one position to another, but which also guides the canopy and holds it to a'Xed path'ofmovement. Y

A furthermeans, releasable from'within'and/oriwithout the cockpit, is providedl toimtnova'bly `secure or'lloick Athe canopy to the fuselage when it is injits closed positionV over the cockpit.

In short, by use of the disclosure herein thepca'nopy may be mounted on the fuselage for swinging'fore` and Aaft movement,:i. e. movementlongitudinally ofthefuseapparent, this invention consists in the^construction, combination and arrangementeof parts all asherein'after more fully described, claimedV and illustrated inthel accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l isa side elevation'of an airplane"canopyequipped with the present mounting and operating mechanism and shows the closed position `of the canopy in solid lines and its fully openposition in broken lines, the associate'dairplane fuselage and windshield being fragmentarily illustrated in phantom lines; Y

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken along line12-2 of Fig. l to show the means by which the componentsl'of the several locks employed for the releasable connection of the canopy to the fuselage when Vpositioned'over'lthe cockpit-may ybe operated simultaneously to freef'the'vcanopy for reciprocation'longitudinally of the fuselage;

Fig. 3 isa transverse-'sectiontaken along line f-Soi Fig. l to illustrate the manner inwhich the canopy is locked to `the'fuselage when'inits'closed position-ateach of several points of locking connection;

Fig. 4 is a viewlike that of Fig.-3 showingf'thetoperation of` the lock to disconnect or release the canopy from the fuselageto permit the reciprocation-thereof aftwardly alongy the fuselage to itsopen position;

`Fig. 5 fisya frontelevation oflthe canopy andits'z oper- 'atingmechanism to showthe extended positionithereof 'corresponding tothe extreme openlpositionofthe canice Y opy which, together with `a 'fragmentary portion of the -ass'ociatedfuselaga is illustratedin phantornelines;

Figis aplanview of Ythepresent canopy'with the `lassociated `portion of kthe' fuselage inphantom t lines to 5 show the "inter-relationship of the several lcomponents of the operating er'nechanism in the retracted position with the` canopy overlying:A and lenclo'singthe cockpit; and,

"-Fig. 7 is aperspective` view partlyinsection, of afrag- `ment "of "thepiesentoperating mechanism and associated 10 potionof the y'fuselage tol-show the pivotal connection Heretfore, reciprocating canopies', i.e'.'"canopies' which kare mounted onv4 the fuselage in* association' with the cockpitto lslide orI roll relative thereto -and longitudinally l5 thereof toandfrom the positions- Whereitove'rlies and "covers-the'"cockpit, have become 'more or'A less standard .on 'thscalled'high speed aircraft. The reason for this fis" thatit-is a'lvvay's' undesirable? toA have any component of thefaircrafteproject -into vthelairstream during flight Where they could ldev'clop'd'ragor resistancelto Athe for- -ewardjmovemerit Vof 'the airplane. "There-is' also a possibil- 'ity'itlrateu'nlessfthe'l canopy, when opened during flight, fre- "mainsfreasonablywithin#the contoury of the `fuselage or 'windshieldiitl'itiiglitfbe #torn fronithe fuselage by -theair- *streani. Y v Y With "the" advent fof vjet airplanes and the high 'speeds attained thereby new problems arose which made the rev cipr'ocati'ngY type` canopy' Vnot-onlyobjectionable'f but largely obsolete. Due* oeett'riernely highlpress'uresl c leve'lopedV at @the inereasedispeedsfitf ispr'eticllyimpossible for a pilot vfto=rnaruially.fcloseor open thecanopy in'ilight. Hence, `if the reciprocating canopy is to'be employed,- -heavy and complexvv-power, mechanisms must be use'dl for* theA operationlthereof'. Such power-mechanisms lare of -vari'ous types such asv hydraulic jacks, 'electric' motors etc. and all can; and-often do, jam, stiek,'or otherwise fail ltd'functionp A failure ora-malfunction ofthe" mechaismoperating a reciprocating canopy-m-ayprove to be disastrous yinfanl emergency :by trapping thepilot'inaa critically Y dam- 4=0age`d4 airplane Vvthat `he shouldv abandon.4

It is 'the general rpractice-of pilots of lsonic or supersonic yairplanes` not- -to` open thefcanop'yV during Hight exvcep'tin an emergency, i. e.,when it becomes necessary for-them to bail out `and abandonthe airplane. When the occasion arises for'the pilot to bail-'outor abandon hisairplane, time becomes a-vital'andcontroliing' factor.

Hencel the'canopy must bequickly and'` easily removed from its'closed position'enclosing the cockpit inv order to give the pilot free and unobstructed means of egress-'from the cockpit. `Moreove`r, it vmay be preferred to totally remove or jettison the canopy from thel fuselageto not only insure open egress from the cockpit butto prevent the` pilot from being struck by fthe canopy in'` leaving or jumping from the airplane.

It is toward the solutionof these, -as well as other problems, that the present invention is directed. `A canopy mounting and operating mechanism is proposed hereby which will permit the bodilyr translationV orl oscillation of thecanopy on and relativev to the fuselage between'its extreme'positions i. e. where itis disposed over and encloses thecockpit or where it-is positioned substantially /over the fuselage aft or rearwardly of said c`ockpit; When the presentcanopy is'op'ened during i'ght itrwillproject into the airstream and be torn from the fuselage byV air pressure thereby eliminatingV complicated jettisoning means. As an added precaution to insure the releaseof vthe canopy, special means operable by the pilot either under a separate control or incorporated into the present operating and locking mechanism may be employed vto positively jettison the canopy. Such positive jettisoning meanslforms'no partof this invention aside from thefact 'tha'tfthe invention contemplates thepossble employment of some such ejecting or jettisoning mechanism and has i Thus, thecanopy may be swung bodily and elevated relabeen arranged to locate the canopy above the fuselage to the rear of the cockpit prior to the operation of the ejecting or jettisoning means that may be used. v

Referring more particularly to .the drawings, ltlidesignates fragmentarily an airplane fuselage which.. has a cockpit 11 therein. Mounted ontthe fuselage .10'across theforward end of the cockpit 11 isa windshield 12, only' a portion of which is shown in phantom lines. Neither the fuselage nor the windshield 12 per se -form any part of this invention but are used herein solely for purposes of reference Yto more clearly show and describe the tion with the windshield and fuselage. Therefore,` it may be said thatthe present inventionmay.beemployed in f-conjunction with any major airplane ycomponentlsuch as a fuselage without departingffrom the scope hereof.

subject canopy, its operating mechanism and'its coopera-"r maintain the streamline aerodynamic contour A torque tube 13 is mountedY transversely of the cockf pit 11 adjacent the aft endl thereof on a pair of brackets 14 which areiixedly secured by any suitable means to the rear wall or bulkhead 15 of said cockpit 11. `These brackets I4 are horizontally aligned one with the other and -lap and bear snugly against the sides of the fuselage 1).

Thus the contour of the canopy 19 issuch as to merge with the adjoining windshield 12 and fuselage 1t) so as to form smooth continuations of the surfaces thereof in both the longitudinal and transverse plane and thereby of the airplane.

In addition to the overlapping engagement of the skirts 1'9' with each sideof the fuselage 10, this joint or junceach consists Vof a pair of spaced members 14Uforvthe reception and support therebetween of an arm 17 which is immovably connected to, and projects radially from, each end of the tube 13. A bolt or pin 16 is. provided to pivotally mount the arm 17 between the members 14' of the bracket 14. Thus the torque tube 13 is pivotallyg;

mounted on the fuselage 10 for rotation relative'to `the pin or bolt 16. f

The-torque tube 13 extends transversely of the fuselage 10 and of the cockpit 11 and terminates at each end in an arm 18which is so permanently and xedly attached to the tube as to be integral with it and angularly extendingtherefrom in substantial opposition to the cranks 17. Therefore, the torque tube 13 and the arms- 18 at its ends, in effect,V combine to form an integral, rigid U- shaped frame, mounted for oscillation and also for bodily i movement relative to thev fuselage 10 by means of cranks 17 on their respective pivot members 16 adjacent the ends of the bight portion of the frame.

The arms 18 are identical one with the other and are each provided withan aperture or transverse hole near itsV free extremity f or the pivotal attachment thereof to the cockpit cover or'canopy 19. To this end the frame or skirt 19' of the canopy 19 is provided with a pair of transversely aligned brackets 20 which are xedly secured one on either side of the skirt'19. Each .bracket 20 comprises apair of spaced depending arms 20 which are so v disposed as to lie in the plane of the armsV 18 for the Each arm 18 is liereception and engagement thereof. ceived between the depending arms 20' of the associated by the bolts 21 which pierce brackets 20 and the apertures in the arms 18. vHence any bodily movement of the torquertube 13 relative to the boltsjor pivots 16, as set forth above, will be imparted to, so as to elfect a corresponding movement'of, the canopy 19 i. e. a reciprocating movement of the canopy longitudinally of the fuselage 10. Y

At and along the top of thepfuselage 10 beginningrat the aft end of the cockpit 11 and extending rearwardly, a

of. A rigid bar 23'is secured to the under or inner surrelatively narrow strip`22 is removed from the skin therej.

face of the strip 22, This bar 23 terminates at each end in a bifurcation 24. The forward bifurcation24 spans and embraces Aa lug 25 tixedly carried by and projecting from the aft end of the canopy 19 at the transverse center` i thereof to which it is pivotally connected by apin 26.'

The opposite bifurcation 24 is similarly connected as at 27, to the fuselage 10 for pivotal movement. The length of the bar 23 is substantially equal to'that of the arms 18 so that'the longitudinal center line of the `canopy .-19-` will remain in a virtually horizontal plane during the entire movementV thereof between its e'xtrem'e'positions. 75.10 bear theweightofthecanopy a.tall 1:ixnes. l Hence, Y

tion between the canopy 19` and the fuselage lil is further sealedwhen thecanopy 19 is in its closed position by means of a rubber tube 28 (Fig. 4). This tube 28 is rectangular in cross-section and is secured to and along "U channel 30.

the inner edgel of the sides of the-'fuselage 10V in any suitable manner, such, for example, as by a plate 29 and a It is to be noted that the plate 29 is afxed to the inner surface of the side of the fuselage to rest substantially perpendicular.V The U-channel 30 is immovably vsecured -to the face of this bracket 29 with its open side facing inwardly of the cockpitl 11. The tube 28 is seated in and fastened to the U-,channel 30 with its un'attached side extending somewhat beyond the limits of said UfchannelSil for the flush and sealing abutl ment with the surface ofra perpendicular depending strip 'or'band 31 iixedto and carried by the skirt or apron 19 of the canopy 19 when said canopy is the cockpit.

disposed to enclose In 'order to control the reciprocation of the canopy,

f i. e.`,move'it"frorn its open position aft of the cockpit toits closed position enclosing the cockpit counterbalancing means is employed in association with the torquer tube 13. This-counterbalancing means consists of "a pair of helical coil springsV 32 centrally disposed on the tube13 each with one of their ends anchored to the tube.

At their oppositeor inner ends the springs 32 terminate at vt'heicenter p oint in the lengthvof the tube 13 in a pair Y of adjacent tips 32' having aligned holes therein for the .Y passage of a vconnecting vbolt 34.v An arcuate link 35 curved to conform to the contour of the tube 13 and having an. aperture at each of its endsV `is piovtally mounted'at one end on the bolt 34 between tips 32 bracket 20 and is pivotally connected or hinged thereto 3 of the springs 32 and'at its other end to a bracket 36 which is permanently secured to the bulkhead 15, as by the bolts 36.

,Also disposedon each end portion of the tube 13 between the springs 32 and thev projecting links 17,v are Y,a pair of springs 37 similar to the springs 32. Each of the springs 37 are secured to the tube 13 at one end 33 while their opposite ends eachterrninates in a projecting fitting 37 which is provided with an opening for the reception ofva bolt 38. A link 39 pivotally' connects l each tting^37f of the springs 37 to the bulkhead or endwall 15- of the cockpit 11V. For thisY purpose each link 39 is bifurcatedlat its opposite endsto receive kand -secure the fitting 37 at one of itsends by means of a `bolt 38 andjat its vother end to engage and secure a bracket 40 -fixedly secured to the wall or bulkhead 15 by means of a bolt 41. v

The springs 37 are arranged in opposition to the springs 32 so as to counterbalance the assembly consisting of the is to supply'opposed torque forces of sufficient magnitude as desired.

n; asaems thepilot Vneedtapplysnnlvratlorce: necessary .t .imbalance the opposite torque.forcesf:in:orderto movewtheanopy By `provision of the spring counterbalance the movement of the canopy assembly: is` assisted byxthe springs 32 and 37 at the initiation of such movement from either its fully closed position or its fully open vposition when the maximum forcel is` requiredrto: move ,the.assembly. .At rintermediate points in the path A.of movement of .the canopy assembly where .the force. of gravity affects the movement of the ,canopy the springs variably actr to retard the accelerated movement. of thecanopy'assembly.

Since the canopy is to ybe maintained lclosed and vsecured against movement relative to the fuselage v during flight, locking meansfsuch. as` illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is provided. Preferablyy there are two of. these locks interposed between the canopy 19and the fuselage V10 on either side ofthe cockpit 1-1. Each lock'comprises .allatch device 42 mounted for operation on .the fuselage 1t) and a complementary catch or keeper 43' adjustably secured to the canopy 19 positioned 'to be in alignment with the latch when said canopy occupies its closed=posi tion.

To mount the catch or keeper43 on the canopy, a block 44 is tixedly mounted onthe inner side of the skirt.1 9 in any convenient manner. This block 44is provided with a vertical passage or well 45, preferably circularvin cross-section, in its bottom face and an internally threaded boithole 46 is centrally disposed inthe end-wall of this passage or well 45. p K

The catch or keeper.43 .comprises a.stud -47 fto be received .in thepassage or well and--a pairof integral,

'projecting `ears 48 extending in opposition to thezstud 47 and equally disposed on opposed sides o f thelongitudinal axis thereof. The stud 47 is provided-with a central bore 49 for the reception therein of an internally threaded bushing 50 through which abolt 51'passes. for threaded engagement with the bolt hole 46. `It. is to be Anoted that the bore .49'is of greater diameter at .its-ends than at its central portion to thereby create ya central shoulder 49 on one side of which an oversizefinner-.end 50 of the bushing 50 rests. The other side or face vof the shoulder 49' serves as a seat for the head 51 of bolt 51 .when in its operative position. The position of the catch or keeper 43 to the block 44 is regulated within limits by the adjustmentv of the bolt 51 relative lto Athe hole 46.

Adjacent the outer ends of the .ears 48 are provided apertures 52 which align one withthe other. Av cylindrical bushing 53 extends between the ears 48 andis pressfitted at its ends into the adjacent .apertures Y52. yThis bushing affords a passage for the bolt 54 which extends between the ears 48 and may be tightened to prevent its v movement within the bushing 53. On that part of the bushing 52 disposed between the ears 48 of the catch or ykeeper 43,` is mounted a sleeve- 55 whichabuts the opposed inner :faces of the ears 48. at its. endssoas to maintaintherspacing of said ears. At the same timethis .,fbrackett'57f are. Aspacedl one from'- the other a distancezsubstantially equal to the overall distance between the yspaced fearsff48 offthe.catc'h43. Hence, when .the .canopy 19 is closed, the catch-*43:is-seated within the. U-shaped bracket S7 andA is-fdisposed between the sides 57" thereof.

Since the head and nut on -opposed ends of the bolt V'54 extend beyond the limits of the respective ears-48,

al saddleforrrecess159 `is provided at the outer end of each .side 57 lof the U-,bracket 57 to `receive and seat the The operation yof 'the hook 56 for the engagement' and/or disengagement-of the catch or keeper 43 on the canopy -19eis,manuallyeffected by the pilot through. a -toggl'e assembly, generally .designated 61. This toggle assembly 61v comprises. a link 62 pivotally Yconnected at :one extremityj to Vthe end of. hook A56 opposed to the .-catchfengagingem by avpin or bolt 63. It is similarly j `connected at 64.atits-otherextremity to an arm 65 xed `right-angles to .each other. The overall composite .length of the-link v62 and-ear 65-is such thatl when the hook sleeve 55 cooperates with the latch 42 carried on `the l 10 is accomplished through, and by means of, a'bracket Y l57. rl`his bracket 57 is generally U-shaped in section,

the'base S'being curved to conform to .theA contourof the'fuselage :1'6 against which it abuts and to which it ^is"`bolted' or"'otherwise secured. Atu andalong its upper Vend the-:outerface of the' bracket 58 isoffset andagrooved to-"circumvent and `abut the :inner face *of the projecting ladjoining bracket' 29. `LThe 'sides V$57 I'of-thee J-shaped i 1axisof the. shaft 6.6 (Fig. 3.).

vlessof their'number.

to, `and.projectingiradially from, a shaft 66. The link 62 is..curved or' bowed medially of its length whereby the end portions of the link are disposed at substantially 56v engages the catch 43Y the curved portion of the, link 62 partially encircles and accommodatesr the .shaft 66 tothegend that the Vaxes of pivots 63 and 64 lie on substantially 4 astraight linet in aplane somewhat abovev the At all times Vthe axis of the. pivot=60 ofthe hook 56 isdisposed to one side of the longitudinalcenter of said hook. Hence, itis .apparent that: any -up-load Aor'force applied to the canopy 19 while itzislocked to thefuselage will tend to tighten or load vthe latch mechanism 42.in direct opposition to the. up-

When, however, it is desired to release the latchmechanismf42 and thereby release the. canopy 19 for move- `ment relative to the vfuselage .10, the .pilot rotatesI the shaft 66 by means of and through an operatinghandle 67 (Fig. l) xed tol land projecting radially from said shaft` and located on one s'de ofthe-cockpit .11. Manifestly, yelockwiserotation (Fig. 3) ofv the shaft 66-breaks the toggle'61 and-moves thepivots 63 and 64 of link' 62 to a position below the axis ofthe shaft 66 causing a corresponding clockwise rotation of therhook 56 whereby said hook is disengaged from the catch` or keeperV 43. The elements 56, 57 and 65 of the latch assembly^then assume the positions `shown in Fig. 3. -Reversely the counterclockwise rotation of the rod 66 moves Vthese .elements from their respective positions illustrated in Fig. 4 to the positions thereof, shown' in Fig. 3 where the hook S6 .engages the catch or keeper 43 andllocks'the canopy 19to the. fuselage .10. f

The foregoing description ofthe construction `and operation of the locking mechanism operable betweenfthe .canopy 19 and the fuselage 10 is in-ter'ms'of a-single unit. Two or-more--of these units vmay-'beemployed on each side of the cockpit 11 Ywhere theyare relatively spaced longitudinally/'of the cockpit.

To the end that allV of these lockingl units Vmay'be operated simultaneously for thev complete Vrelease Vof the canopy 19 or for completelylocking. ofthe canopy to the fuselage a linkage isprovided inthe .cockpit'and is operatively associatedwith. all ofthe locking units regard- This linkageI includes yanV extension shaft 68 interposedv between the shafts 6,6 `of adjacent latch mechanismsY 42'to directly connect thelockingunits disposed on the samesideJ-of the cockpit 11;an'd' a pair ofoperatingrods '69 which transmit therotaryl movement -of the shafts-66 ofthe-lockingunits on one sid'eeof-"the cockpit-11 to the shafts 66 lother side of the cockpit.

7 of the locking units on the Extension' shaft? 68 is an extensioniof theshaft 66 adjoining its ends and disposed' between the locking connections on one side of the cockpit 11 for that pur f be receivedtelescopicallyin atube-'71 which comprisesA the major portion of the Vextension shaft68. Thus the -extension shaft 68 slideably and Yadjustably cooperates `at its ends with thecoupling Yor sleeve unit 70 and is there xedlysecured for; rotation in-unison with the shafts 66 oflocking units disposed 'adjacent-each of -its ends.v This arrangement and construction compensates for any misalignrnent of the locking connections, due in part to e the curvature of the fuselage and in part to variations in installation and mounting of the severalV locking units. A pair of operating rods 69 extend transversely across Vthe rear'of the cockpit 11 adjacent the end wall or bulkhead 15 and the ends thereof are pivotally connected to vthe ends of bellcrank lever 72 which in turn is pivoted centrally of its length to the bulkhead 1S. To accomplish this the bellcrank 72 has a central hole for the receptionV and passage of a xed pivot 72'.' The pivot 72is integralA with, and projects laterally from, a mounting plate 73 which is xedly secured to the bulkhead 15 as at 74. At

its opposed ends the bellcrank 72 is bifurcated to pivotally receive one extremity of each operating rod 69 as at 69. The other extremity of each'rod 66 is connected in a 'l manner to be described to the shaft 66 of latch mechanisms 42 disposed on opposite sides of the cockpit 11 in alignment with the rods 69. Each rod 69 is provided with a connection 75threaded to the rod whereby' the length of the rod may be adjusted to'compensateY forvariations in installation.

The connection of each rod 69 to the shaft 66 ofthe latch mechanism is eiected through a lever arm 76. This lever 76 is secured to the Vshaft 66 so as to project radially therefrom and pivotally engage the end of the rod 69 Vby means of and through a pivot 76. It isY to be noted that the extremity of the shaft66 terminates in a journal 77 which is centrally mounted on a-supporting plate 78 affixed to therear bulkhead i5 by the means 7E.

Itisapparent that the rotation of the handle 67 by the pilot or operator not only effects the simultaneous operation of each hook 56 with respect to its companion catch 43 on one side of the cockpit, but also-effects the simultaneous operation of each hook on the oppositerside of the cockpit by the rotation of lever V76 through the rods 69. Similarly the-'rotation' ofthe levers 76 on one side yof the cockpit is imparted to the levers 76 on the other side of cockpitll for simultaneous operation of the hooks 56 on that side of the cockpit byand through the operating rodsV 69. Hence the operation of one control (handle 67) operates all of the locking units en one side of the cockpit by means of the extension shafts 68 and simultaneouslyV operates the' locking lunits on the opposite side of the cockpit by'means of their extension shafts 68 in conjunction with the operating rods 69.

In short the shafts 66 o n each side ofthe cockpit are interconnected for operation in unison by the extension "shafts 69 and the shafts 66 of the severallocking units lon one side are connected forrsimultaneous operation' with the Y'shafts V66 of the' units' on the opposite side of 'thecockpit by the operatingv rods.

In order'to maintain the locked or unlocked Ycondition of the hooks 56 once; either ofthese positipns has been established, "resilient: retention. means 79'is provided"`n association with the bellcrank lever 72 to impose a constant urge on said bellcrank lever in the direction it was "last'movedl, Thi'sfretention means 79 consists 'of a pair of cylinders 79fopen at their adjoining ends and televscopically -itt'ed one Within the other.

A compression Y' spring 79" vhaving Va diameter substantially equal` to the internal diameter of the innerecylinder 79 is disposed within the joined cylinders 79' to impose a force thereon tending to.separater the fcylindersvand extend theA length of of the unit. VThe outer end ofthe external or larger cylinder'79"V is pivotally secured by a bolt or pin 80 Yto The bellcrank VleverV 72isso organized and arranged e with the rods 69 that the pivots 69"thereof are equidistantly disposed on opposite sides of the axis of its pivot 72 and in theV extreme positionsof said bellcrank correspondv to the fully locked and fully unlocked positions of the hooks 56. The fixed pivot 82 of the Vretention unit 79 is vertically disposed directly below the pivot 72 of the bellcrank lever. Hence, an actuating force is required to overcome and compress the spring 79 in order to rotate the bellcrank lever 72 .and therprojection 81 Withfit from one side tothe other of the lineV of the pivots-72' andy 82. yIn this way the retention means 79 serves to lock thelatch-mechanims 42 in both their open and closed positions. I

In addition to-the above-described mechanism for locking and/or vunlocking the canopy 19 to the fuselage 10 Y which obviously is operable only `from within the cockpit 11, an external operating control is desirable to complete i the mechanism. For this purpose an external handle 84 (Fig. 2) Vis so mountedv inthe outer wall or skin of the fuselage 1() -thatis vnormally iiush with the skin so -as not to interrupt or breakthe smooth, aerodynamic contour of the Vsurface of the fuselage. 'This'handle or lever 84 is positioned Vadjacent theY aft end ofthe cockpit 11 and is provided with an integral lobe 85 which projects from its inner face near the bottom thereof. The lobe S5 pierces the Yfuselage 14) through an aperture provided for that purpose and is pivotally mounted on a bolt -or pin 86 secured to and projecting laterally from `a fixed rectangular plate 87 forming a part of the'aircraft structure.

The handle'84 vis connected to one of the locking and/or unlocking units by and through a linkagewhich operativelyv joins it with the shaft 66. This linkage is employed for two purposes; one, to obtain a mechanical advantage incident to the use of a lever arm; and two, to allow the handle 84 an initial amount of lost motion relative to shaft 66 for Vthe withdrawal of said handle from its housing in the fuselage skin so that it'may be grasped.

ried by the fixed plate 87' adjacent the end thereof remote j from the pivot pin 86. A link 9%, pivotally connected at Vone of its ends to one arm 88 of the bellcrank 88 and at itsother end to the free end of a crank arm 91 secured'to the pin 86 adjacent the handle 84, constitutes the lower sectionof this linkage system. A similar link 92 'connected at its opposed ends to the'other arm 88 of the bellcrank 88 and to a crank 93 fixed to Yand proe `jecting radially from the shaft 66 constitutes the upper section of the linkage system. Y

The operation or actuation of the `linkage rotates the shaft 66 inthe same manner as the handle 67 to simultaneouslyV lock and/or unlock the several locking units f asas-goce "94 areefnxedffo--the lobe fssof hanane y's4 in spaeedr'etationship one to the other and'on2opposit:..sides-ofUthe fci'ank" 91 s'o-'as 'to-project at `rightiangles from the face of the'l'obe intothe path of the/crank 91- uponthemovement of" saidhandle aboutV theI pivot pin 86.

The lostmotion of the handle-84 with respect to the shaft 'is'accomplished by positioning the stopsor abutments 94 a predetermined distance from each side of theI crankl 91. vThusA upon the initial-:movement ofthe handley '84, for example through 15',-neither stop 94 will vcontact-thecrank 91. However,` after completion 4of this` initial movement one or -the other of the'- stops 94 'Willjc'ontact' thecrank 91Y whereupon-'continued movementof'the handle `will operate the linkage tortate the connectedsha'ft l66 and thereby 4lock orunlo'ck the v :the arm"93;for1rcitation' of: theshafto 'in the" direction .thatjdisengagesthe`h`ook S6 ofthe coacting locking unit iin Ythe same manner as""thehandl'e^'Q57 withinthe cockpit. "Since the "shft .of onelocking unit controls "orefct's lthe simultaneous. operation of the hooks of all "locking 'unitsito' and/or from their associated'andj c'omplm'entary catches"43`iitbecomes'manifesfthat 'operation of` the. handle l84 will 'likewise operate the hooks of all 'locking units 'e'lectivly interposed between the canopy 2194 and fuselagel Vi/hatis claimedi's:

l. In an airplane the combination'with the l'fuselage having arcockpiL-of@canopy yto=over1ie and enclose said cockpit, a`plurality of spaced latches mounted on the fuselage at and -along theV edges of thecockpit, a plurality of spaced:catchesixedlytsecnredalongthe corresponding lplementanyf. to each latch. Ywhen the. Lcanopy overlies -and encloses the..cockpit,.connections"between Yall. offsaid latchesforJ actuatingthem` in .unisoncto engage .or release f their respective catches,` a. .torque "rod mounted "ont the ilfi'sela'ge, randrawpair. of arms interposed between the l -zcanopyand.thefuselage eachxedzat one endfitolanf ex- "'trernityt of. the torque.lro.d and rat: itsioppositeend pivoted toi the; canopy...

2. In an airplane `Yof spaced catchesxedly secured `along the corresponding y edges of the canopygone catch aligning with and complementary to-.each latch when thecanopy overlies and encloses the cockpit,'co'nnections between all of said latches for actuating them in unison to engage or release their respective catches, a torque rod mounted on thefuselage for both rotary and limited bodily movement, a pair of arms interposed between the canopy and the fuselage each fixed at one end to an extremity of the torque rod and at its opposite end pivoted to the canopy, and an auxiliary arm pivoted at one end centrally of the fuselage and at its opposite end centrally of the canopy, the fuselage being provided adjacent the pivotal connection of the auxiliary arm with a longitudinal recess to receive and house said auxiliary arm when the canopy overlies and encloses the cockpit.

` 3. In an airplane the combination with a fuselage having a cockpit, of a canopy to cover and enclose said the combination with the *fuselageV l,having a cockpit, of a canopy to overlie and enclose jisaidfcockpit,"aplurality of spaced latches mounted on the cockpit, vafseries of `'oscillatory shafts,feach carrying a (latch, situated"on1-each side of the cockpit, a'seriesfof catches xed to eachside of the canopy, each catch being -complementary toene Yof said latches when vthe canopy covers and encloses the cockpit,-extension shafts on each side-of Athe cockpit. disposed between and connected to the oscillatory shafts .carrying latches on that side of the cockpit for the simultaneous operation of Vsaid oscillater-y shaftsfandthe-'latches 'carried thereby, .means oper- 4ableffromtfw'ithin' the cockpit for controlling the move- 4rrnentofthe oscillatory and extension shafts onone side -ofltheacoclkpitI :whereby fthe r associated latches engage vor r'el'easeItheirAcomplementary catches, a handle mounted A externally v"o'tthe cockpit-"and connected to the oscillatory land extensionshafts on one sideof the cockpit .for vthe actuation..ofsaid'ishafts1to-causethe latches on that side --of the'fcookpit ftolsimultaneously.,engage or release their 4respective complementary catches, links disposed between -tleosoillatory'fand extension 'shafts-on. one side of 'the cockpit 'andl'those on theopposite side of the cockpit,

each link beingn eccentr-icallyA connected at its outer end 'to one-'offth'e aforesaidshafts and lsaid links having their I inner-ends'idisposediat'fthe approximate center of the` rear `wallo'f'the cockpit, abellcra'nk lever. pivoted to the `rear -Walllofthe-fcockpit havlingeachof its arms pivotedto the Vinner-en`d o'fA one of sa'id links whereby the oscillation fdfthezfshaft's fon oneside- 'of the cockpit correspondingly zlmove's one==of sa'idlinks 4and the attached bellcrank .to

3 t cause similarvoscillation of the shafts on the bother side of-"the cocltpitby meansfof Vthe iother` ofsaid-links, means connected tossaid bellcrank to counteract Vitszinitialmove- 'aposition abjovelandspacedfrom the fuselage aft .ofthe cockpit. n

4. I'n--an` 1airplane the combinationtwith a'fusela'ge ihaving-afcockpit, cfa-canopy for said-cockpit', any assembly for, mounting the :canopy Vfor movement longitudinallyfof "thefuselage comprisingl a :pairofi-'mounting -arms lpivota'lly disposed -in-:transverse alignment-one iwith the other; said arms beinglpivotally-connected at't'heir free-ends tofthe --canopyiapproximatel'y fmedially fof itslength, andi aflsin'gle arm substantially equal -intleng'th toi-sai'dmountingaa'rms 4pivotally secured-atone endV 1to 'the fuselage aft of the cockpit-andpivotallyfconnected at: its opposite `I-end "to l the 'aft-end-of thefcanopy.

l5. vIn anairpl'anethe combination 'withl-a'fuselage having-'a cockpit, of: a canopy for saidl cockpit, and 'aunitary assembly for mounting-the canopyfor -swingingmovement longitudinally of`th'e fuselage -comprising a torque rod,

a crank-disposed' adjacent `and attached toeach tend of said'rodlfor the pivotal attachment-thereof to the fuselage, an `arrrrfixed -toI andl projecting radially from leach lend of "said torquerod 'to f constitute aV rigidmounting assembly` inl combination with said rod, pivotal connections between the Jends fof' said arms and'the opposed Y sides of the canopy, opposed counterbal'ancingsprings encircling saidjrod each'having-'oneend-.tsecured'to Vthe rod-and-its otherz end securel'to'y thev end-^wall-of vthecoekpit, -Iand -an fauxili'ary'farmjpivotedat; its'ends"tolthe-fuselage-'aft of-the cockpit and to the aft end of the canopy.

6. In an airplane the combination with a fuselage having a cockpit, of a torque rod mounted on the fuselage at the aft end of the cockpit, a canopy to cover and close said cockpit, a pair of mounting arms fixed to the ends of said torque rod and disposed in alignment one with the other transversely of the fuselage, said arms being pivotally connected to the canopyrmedially of its length at the ends thereof remote from the rod, an auxiliary arm substantially equal in length to said arms pivotally secured at one end to the fuselage aft of the cockpit and pivotally connected at the other end to the aft end of the canopy, and at least two coil springs encircling the torque fasasmos f rod, each of said springs beingsecured atitsopposedends to the rod and to the fuselage and being Wound equally aft of the cockpit comprising a transverse rod mounted at the aft end of the cockpit for rotary and bodily movement, an arm fixed to and projecting at right angles to each end of said rod, a connection between the outer end of each of said arms and the Canopy, a rigid link hinged to the fuselage at one end and pivotally connected to the' approximate center of the end of the canopy at its opposite end, and counterbalance means associated with said rod organized and arranged to assist in moving the canopy from a static position at each end of its path of movement and to retard its movement after it has moved from either of its static positions.

8. In an airplane the combination with a fuselage having a cockpit therein, of a canopy for said cockpit,` a U-shaped frame pivotally connected at its bight end to the fuselage and at the ends of its arms to the canopy A medially of its length, and a guide and supporting arm pivotally connected to the aft end of the canopy and to the fuselage, said arm coacting with said frame for bodily swinging and elevating the canopy relative to'the fuselage cover said cockpit, a frame comprising `a pairof interconnected actuating arms pivoted at corresponding ends to the fuselage at the aft end of the cockpit, the other ends of sa'id arms being pivoted to the canopy medially of the length of said canopy, a single guide arm pivotally conf nected at one of its ends to the aft end of the canopy and cockpitvupon the'operation'of -said releasing means.' and Y thereby disposed in the airstream.

l1.' In an airplanethe combination :with afus'elage .having'a cockpit, of Va'canopy to enclose andcover 'said cockpit, a series 'of spacedLdepending catches secured to thecanopyat 'and along the edge thereof, upstanding latches mounted on the fuselage one'in alignment with and complementary Vto each catch when the canopy encloses and covers the cockpit for coactionrwithY the associated catch to secure the canopy against movement relative sto the fuselage, interconnecting linkage joining the several latches one tothe other for unitary operation thereof to Arelease the latches from their respective catches to free n the canopy, said linkage kbeing operable both from within the cockpit and from the exterior of the fuselage, lul-shaped mounting frame pivotally connecteduat the outer ends of A its arms to the forward portion of the canopy and at its bight end to the fuselage Vat the aft end of the cockpit and operable upon the operation of said linkage to move Vthe canopy longitudinally of and inv an arcrelative to the fuselage to a position above and aft of the cockpit and into the airstream, and guide means operable between the K fuselage and canopy to maintain said canopy substantially parallellydisposed with reference to said fuselage during said movement. Y

12. In an airplane the combination with a fuselage having a cockpit, of a canopy to normallyloverlie and en- Y close said cockpit, locking means between the canopy and from a position enclosing the cockpit to a position verti- 30 fuselage to secure the canopy in its .normal position, disengaging means connected to said locking means, a counterbalanced mounting frame pivotally connected to j the canopy medially thereof and tothe fuselage adjacent the aft end of the cockpit, and a rigid bar pivotally con- ,o nected'at its ends to the end of the -canopy and to the 5 fuselage, said frame and bar cooperating in the mounting of the canopy to the fuselage for movement in an arcuate path with reference tothe fuselage to a position above and aft of the cockpit whereby the longitudinal centerline 'of the canopy remains substantially parallel to that of the at its other end to the fuselage aft of the cockpit, said frame 40 fuselageV Throughout Said movemelltand arm guiding and displacing Ysaid canopy from its normal position Venclosing the cockpit to a position above and spaced from the fuselage substantially aft of said cockpit, and locking means securing the canopy to the n fuselage when yin its normal position.

V10. In -an airplane the combination with a fuselage having a cockpit therein, of a canopy for `said cockpit organized and arranged to merge ywith thesurface of the fuselage when in its operative position enclosing the cocky pit, lock-ing `means securing the canopy vto the fuselage whenin its operative position, releasing means connected to said locking means, a frame, means pivotally connecting the frame to the fuselage and to the canopy, said means including aplurality of mounts complemental to said con- Y necting'means ixedly secured to the fuselage adjacent the canopy at the approximate center thereof, the frame Vand'` Y to the fuselage for movement longitudinally of the fuselage Vlink cooperating in the support and mounting of the canopy l30VV to a position over and spaced from the fuselage aft of the References Citedl in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,831,588 Clark -..Y Nov. 10, 1931 2,385,493 Bowers Sept. 25,4 1945 2,424,834 Lobelle Iuly 29, 1947 2,444,114 'Pevney June 29, 1948 2,445,438 King July 20, 1948 2,479,713 Y Beach Aug. 23, 1949 2,484,919 Westcott Oct. 18, 1949 2,494,367 Steele et al.` Ian. 10, 1950 K 2,591,913 Bowers et al. Apr. 8, 1952 2,673,050 Patch et al Mar. 23, 1954 FOREIGN-PATENTS 267,973 i YGreat Britain Dec. 29, 1927 467,153 GreatBritain June 7, 1937 671,540 Y Germany Feb. 9, 1939 n OTHER REFERENCES "F1ight Magazine; Feb. 11,'1943; page 153. 

